Resilience: How Pets and Working Animals Make Us More

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This is a brief reflection on our 3-year old Golden Retriever named Lady; hoping that you would contribute your stories and we would discuss how pets and working animals make us more of everything: more human, more resilient, more happy, more safe, more compassionate, more healthy, and so forth. More below.

I hope you're not too bitter or cynical for this :=)


I have always been a cat person. But as I began to recover from the worst of the ptsd, Lovie and I talked about how a dog could help me recover faster. We thought a dog could be a companion for me in my isolation. By then I was on medical leave and quite a recluse; venturing outside the house and yard only for medical appointments. And we thought a dog would help me get outside and exercise.
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So we discussed breeds. We wanted a dog who would "get" being a therapy dog without a whole lot of training. While the dog may have been trainable, I could not participate in training :=) So we wanted a companion breed. We wanted a medium-sized breed. We're still cultural Anglicans - who seek the sacred first in beauty - so the dog had to look good while dogging it :=) So we decided on a Golden Retriever.
Here's wikipedia:

The Golden Retriever is a large-sized breed of dog bred as gun dogs to retrieve shot waterfowl such as ducks and upland game birds during hunting and shooting parties, and were named 'retriever' because of their ability to retrieve shot game undamaged. Golden Retrievers have an instinctive love of water, and are easy to train to basic or advanced obedience standards. They are a long-coated breed, with a dense inner coat that provides them with adequate warmth in the outdoors, and an outer coat that lies flat against their bodies and repels water. Golden Retrievers are well suited to residency in suburban or country environments. Although they need substantial outdoor exercise, they should be housed in a fenced area because of their instinctual tendency to roam. They shed copiously, particularly at the change of seasons, and require fairly regular grooming.

The breed is a prominent participant in conformation shows for purebred dogs. The Golden Retriever is popular as a disability assistance dog such as being a guide dog for the blind and a hearing dog for the deaf. In addition, they are trained to be a hunting dog, a detection dog, and a search and rescue participant. The breed's friendly, gentle temperament means it is unsuited to being a professional guard dog, but its temperament has also made it the third-most popular family dog breed (by registration) in the United States, the fifth-most popular in Australia, and the eighth-most popular in the United Kingdom.Golden Retrievers are rarely choosy eaters, but require ample exercise (of two or more hours a day). The breed is fond of play but also highly trainable.

Three years later, it was one of the best decisions for my health and quality of life and for our family members. We bought a puppy from a farm across the river in Quebec. Both parents were Goldens, one of them certified. We were happy about that; for we thought she would be a true golden without some of the overbred tendencies of pure breeds. Here are some photos of her early months.
Lady puppy couch2.jpg
She loved our couch and slept on it's back as long as she could. Which sadly ended when she got too big :=)
Lady bigger couch.jpg
She began in a crate and once she could make it through the night, she graduated to our youngest daughter's queen-sized bed. The two are inseparable. I pity the poor fool who has to compete with Lady for permanent room on the bed some time ahead :=)
Lady puppy crate.jpg
We've walked most every day since she was little. Now she ranges far. We walk her with a 20-ft retractable leash so that she can roam and sniff. It's her walk too, eh? My back is problematic, so I rest it when she has found a fascinating spot. I call it her reading time. The whole village and surrounding roads are her library and she is a dedicate reader.
Lady lying down 2.jpeg
(Sorry about the sideways photos - no idea.) She's well trained - Lovie is a animal genius - and a well behaved, happy dog. The whole village knows her - and "the fellow with the hat." Canadians are ball cap people, like Americans are: they're not familiar with the Tilley hat. As they used to say in the colonies, "Only mad dogs and Englishmen go out in the noon-day sun." Except the Englishman was wearing his Tilley hat :=)
Lady lying down.jpeg
Lady helped save my life by helping me turn away from the abyss: she is a lovely companion on my bad days and she gets me out into the neighbourhood and the vitamin D provisioner. I am forced to hold a few minutes of polite conversation all along the route, because the whole village knows and loves Lady and need to stop and love her up. Drivers wave at her while passing by and school bus kids greet her from the windows. She helps me make human contact and get exercise. Lovie has written some children's books about Lady and oldest daughter - the world-class illustrator :=) - is working on the images.
Update: A little story about Lady and I probably needs a photo of us too :=) Lovie took one before today's walk.
Lady and Gerrit_0_0.JPG
As for Her Royal Majesty, Purdy, the 13-year old cat, she was outright opposed to this family addition right off the bat. Lady is petrified of the old dragon :=) Sometimes, though, enquiring minds think it has become a hollow ritual and that the cat is a Yuge hypocrite.
Purdy & Lady_0.jpg

So that's my story and I'm sticking to it. I would love to hear from you about how a pet or a working animal has made you more. Send photos! Enjoy your day today.

Peace be with us, if we learn from animals,
gerrit

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Martha Pearce-Smith's picture

First though...you could not have picked a more perfect breed for your condition.... She is beautiful too.

I must dig out some photos. Then I will tell some stories.

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Actually, only three of the five are golden. The other two are grey-striped and just as cute, but wow, that color is striking. As soon as they could wobble around, they settled in my favorite chair. They wobble really fast, too, so sitting or walking has to be done with caution. I usually count before I move now, to make sure I know where they all are.

When you live in the country, cats arrive. Some are beautiful, and some decide they want to live with you. Especially in winter, and especially when they're expecting kittens, but some also want to snuggle.

The local tomcat is that incredible glowing gold color, especially when the sun hits him. It isn't the usual orange marmalade color, this is really gold, with pale green eyes. And big broad bones.

It creates quite a dilemma, these beautiful homeless migrants, on top of my two responsibly neutered official house cats. Who are mostly outside, now that the weather is nice again.

Carnivores are also a sustainability dilemma. How do you feed them if Purina isn't available?

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Gerrit's picture

provides an endless supply of cats and kittens. (Some people are very cruel or desperate and without internal resources.) My oldest daughter found a kitten in our hedge two years ago: it is now larger than Garfield :=) And just as orange. Smartest cat I've ever seen. She named her Pippin.

My in-laws live on an acreage and spend a fortune on spaying, feeding, and re-homing barn cats and kittens. They consider it a normal cost of country living and have done the same all their lives. I'm sure their vet is retiring to Tahiti soon :=) They reduce their feed costs by raising a small batch of organic turkeys per year. The turkeys feed family gatherings and make Christmas gifts to local friends. And they help feed the barn cats. The cats in return mow down the mice and other barn rodents and provide endless entertainment to folks resting from chores :=)

TY for this and I hope you have a great day my friend,

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pswaterspirit's picture

Are working animals every bit as much as Sadie the great Pyerenese that guards my wool sheep, goats and alpachas. They control rodents so I don't have to.

I have several. I get them fixed so as not to be overrun but occasionally one flys under the radar. I currently have 6 black kittens about 8 weeks old wild as anything. I am considering trying to tame one down. My house cat Celia Would like a friend.

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Gerrit's picture

from you as we go along.

And woolly animals too - w00t! We had thought a while back that an alpaca farm would be fun. We visited a few farms and talked with breeders. We declined in the end because we could not figure out how anyone made any money from them :=) It appears that one has to become a very good show breeder and us ptsd folk can't do shows. I so much still want a pair for the fun of it and as another guardian animal. Lovie is all about fabric arts - not professionally, but as a hobby - and wants a few woolly ones around in retirement. I owuld love ot hear more about your sheep, goats, and alpacas too, when you have a moment. Enjoy your day,

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pswaterspirit's picture

I have two Ralph and Sadie who guard the farm animals. Sadie is older 5 years I got her with the sheep which was something of a bargain because she was well trained. Ralph was a rescue. It took me a long time to get him. The rescue opposed the idea of working dogs. Ralph just wanted something to gaurd. He guarded the foster homes goat, ran away from two different adoptive homes only to turn up guarding something. Finally they gave up and sent him to me. I advise having a pair as opposed to one if you have any kind of serious predators. One can manage the stray eagle, fox, or raccoon. I also have mountain lions, and more frequently coyotes that are not intimidated by one dog. After Sadie had a fight to the death with a mountain lion ($300 vet bill) during broad daylight I got the second. All has been quiet since. Coyotes are sneaky things one will try to keep them busy while the other will go behind and attack from the rear.

Everybody goes in the barn at night and gets locked up. I keep wool animals because I have an idea that I would like to form a farm cooperative that raises wool and spins it into yarn. Currently I have 6 ewe sheep three varieties. 3 angora goats and 4 alpacas. Most of them arrived via Craigs list. They are kind of a test to see how it goes. So far so good. Currently have 7 lambs, 3 kids, baby alpacas not yet born. No major problems. I have been renting bucks but may have to break down and buy an alpaca.

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Gerrit's picture

change our plan so that we get two Pyrenees dogs and not just one. What you said makes perfect sense. What a happy thought :=) I salute Sadie's courage and toughness. A fight to the death with a mountain lion. She is some dog.

The wool coop sounds like a very interesting idea. Lovie was interested in that and we'll see after we move next year whether she is still keen on the woolly ones :=)

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a tasty mouse. My sheep guardian is my mule. He's never so much as stepped on a baby chick running around his feet, lets chickens sit on his back, and lets my ram pick on him (upsets him, but he's adopted the little pest, so he can't do anything decisive about it), but he really doesn't like canine predators, though he'll just drive them away if they'll go. There are coyote packs here, but they've never gotten a lamb, although they wiped out my geese before I had him. When I find a new wet lamb just being cleaned off, he's standing right there, on guard (the ewes are resigned to his company, now). He may have gotten a raccoon or two - I've found a few dead near the chicken coop.

You do have to introduce them carefully. Adjoining stalls for a week or two is better than just turning them all loose together. And there was an initial problem of kidnapping new lambs, but he got past that. It's good if you're around to return them to their mothers. He was very careful with the tiny things, but of course unable to feed them!

A nice thing about a donkey or mule guardian is that they can bond with you as well as with the sheep, and they can also be working animals in other ways. That may matter more for small operations than for large ones, though. My mule would guard me, if he thought I needed it, and is wonderful to ride.

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Gerrit's picture

now that is great stuff. I had heard that llamas are good guardians, but did not know that guardianship is another ability of the versatile mule.

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If you search online for mule and cougar, you'll get pictures of a mule killing a cougar. People question it, and you don't really get the flavor of the action from still photos, but before I had horses or my mule, I had a standard size donkey. Sweet thing. She turned out to be pregnant, and eleven months later, I went out one morning, and there were two of them! Well, I apparently hadn't pulled the back door tight shut, and after a while, my two dogs came bumbling out, dumb and happy. She didn't like it, but my old dog (60#) didn't realize that he was being threatened until she had him cornered. Then she pinned him between her elbows and chest (the description of the mule incident calls it "kneeling on" the cougar, but that's not it), and bit him. Got his whole back in her mouth and chomped. I'd been yelling NO and circling around to get to her head, and she was pivoting away from me as I did it and actually caught me (lightly, fortunately) in the face with one hind foot as she chomped on him and pivoted. At that point, my dog twisted around, slashed her, and got away. The dogs both ran, and unfortunately the donkey foal ran ahead of them, with her in hot pursuit. They vanished around the house and I was sure someone was going to be dead, but by the time I caught up, they'd separated. They hadn't clashed before then, and didn't again.

There's another picture of the mule with front feet on the cougar, very static. But I've seen the action. When I brought home my first rescued Rottweiler, she was two and I didn't know how far I could trust her, so she lived on a leash for her first month or so. One day we were out and she was totally focused on something she smelled, when my mule came up beside us, reared up and smashed the ground - beside her - with his front feet. Shook the ground. He wasn't trying to get her, just demonstrating what he could do, but there's no doubt in my mind that it would have been a killing strike if he'd wanted (The dog didn't get it; smells were too important). So I don't think that mule was just standing on a dead cougar. Donkeys and mules are incredibly quick and coordinated.

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Gerrit's picture

estimate mules and donkeys again.

I bet most everybody used to know stuff like this about most animals. The great urbanization has robbed us of all this great fount of knowledge about nature that sustained life before urbanization and high-tech living. I think that around 1900 there were more horses in NYC than people. And horse knowledge was common. Now, only folks on farms and acreages know stuff like you do. The rest of us better learn and learn fast, I'd say.

And the knowledge we do have is limited and useless. My brother-in-law is a mechanical genius. Well, he has to be: he's crashed more bikes and snowmobiles than any other person I know :=) But most of us have an elementary knowledge of our cars. We don't - and increasingly can't - know anything about their computerized gizzards. I know less about our truck than folks around 1900 knew about their horses and carriages.

Thanks for bringing us all this good knowledge, my friend. Enjoy your evening,

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TY for all this material you put up and guide for us. It's really wonderful. You do so much positive and constructive work and set such a lovely tone!

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Gerrit's picture

BTW, I'm working on a post for resilience members on how-to upload photos. Except, I'm not very good at it. I'll get s/t up and then we could fix it.

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pswaterspirit's picture

14 pound Chihuahua mix named Pete from the humane society 2 years ago. The first thing he did was start herding the neighborhood cats into corners totally terrorizing them. The neighbors were not happy.

I took him to herd dog school where they taught him to herd ducks. Now he rounds up the chickens every evening. He has yet to miss a single one.

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My chickens take forever to go in at night, with the roosters roaming around in attack mode. And sometimes a hen hides out somewhere, and sometimes then a raccoon gets her, even in the barn rafters.

But I hear that herd dogs need regular work, or they get very frustrated, and that's pretty much all the work I have for one.

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pswaterspirit's picture

Pete had this inclination. I watched him a few times. He prepared just as I have seen border collies do. He was very accurate and good at cornering cats. But he had to learn commands and to mind me.

He tried to herd the big animals but the alpaca spit in his face so he sticks to chickens.

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Especially with their relative sizes.

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Gerrit's picture

happy dog. I hope to get a Great Pyrenees when we land on our rural property as a guarding dog for all the animals that my daughter-in-law wants to rescue. Enjoy your day my friend,

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...and a black and white lab mix named Skippy.They slept behind the couch in the living room.Sometimes at night when the wind was blowing,when the old house was creaking,when the closet monster and the monster under the bed were conspiring to do scary monster stuff,I would crawl behind the couch and sleep with Lady and Skippy.Monsters are afraid of dogs.

The past two weeks our two year old Dobie,Ripley,has had a behavioral breakthrough.When we take our daily walk she comes when she's called without fail and she waits at the end of the trail for her leash.Good dog,happy man.

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Solidarity

among-the-wildflowers's picture

I always get excited when I find a fellow Bill Frisell appreciator in the wild.

Gotta say I'm really jealous of you though, my dog comes only when she feels like it and will try to chase after anything with legs and a heartbeat while on walks :/ It's a process...

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"In the end, nobody wins unless everybody wins" - Bruce Springsteen

...and a truck load of dog biscuits may be paying off.I'll cross my fingers and hope it's a trend.

Bill is chill.

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Solidarity

Gerrit's picture

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PriceRip's picture

          Snow White fur except for the circular black eye patches he preferred staying outdoors 24/7. He loved to play hide-and-go-seek in the show banks in the field next door. His black eyes always revealed his whereabouts. As he grew into an astounding 20 lbs (soaking wet) adult he quickly became my younger (and very disabled) brother's primary protector. Any approaching stranger would see Bandit standing alert between them and my brother. He could look fierce and formidable.
          But, as you have already guessed, he was profoundly gentle and loved to "fight" us with great abandon. One day he dragged himself home: Fortunately, uncle Walt was a natural born veterinarian and quickly dealt with the shotgun induced injury. (Side note: we lived at the edge of a very small town in the Wild West) There were many tears that day, but Bandet rebounded and continued to be my brother's companion for many years.

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Gerrit's picture

friend and protector to a young boy who needed it. Big TY for honouring us with the memory of Bandit. Best wishes,

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JayRaye's picture

Rusty came from a terrible back ground, severely abused, almost died. Luckily for both of us, the shelter took the time to rehab him and saved his life before they put him in the adoption pens. Strange but true, he loves the whole human race more than any other k9 I've ever known.

Max is a happy go lucky guy without a care in the world.

We go to a wild place each day where they can run free. They get me outside every day at sunset for a one hour walk. If I try to forget even one day, they remind me.

I love cats also, but I'm a dog person thru and thru.

Max on left, Rusty on right:

Walking with Max and Rusty, Spring 1915.png
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Gerrit's picture

I just got back from a walk with Lady and Lovie. It was a short one - 30 mins or so - my back is acting up today and Lovie is recovering from a head cold. But once again, Lady got me out of the house into the sunshine and breeze and talking with strangers :=)

Thanks for the photo too. Enjoy your day my friend. I see the HR is up; I'm heading there next.

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Unabashed Liberal's picture

also very beautiful.

Goldens are one of our favorite breeds--our dog (my avatar) is nicknamed Mister B (or 'the B'), but he is named after a former neighbor Golden, Bailey. No surprise that this breed is heavily favored (along with Labs) as therapy dogs. Of course, I suppose it could be argued that 'all' dogs are therapy dogs.

Wink

It's been my observation over the years that anyone who doesn't believe that dogs experience very deep feelings, or emotions, probably hasn't been around them very much.

Here's a touching photo (I thought) of a woman with her therapy dog, Bella. It was snapped by her wedding photographer, just after Bella calmed down the bride-to-be (by leaning on her) before the wedding ceremony began. BTW, Bella participated in the wedding ceremony.

screen-shot-2016-01-15-at-5-08-06-pm--Bride With Service Dog--Valerie Parrott shares a sweet moment with her service dog, Bella. MAD PHOTO AND DESIGN_0.png
[Valerie Parrot shares a sweet moment with her service dog, Bella. MAD PHOTO AND DESIGN]

Again, thanks for this excellent post, Gerrit. IMHO, enough can't be said about the positive psychological benefits of having a companion dog(s).

Have a wonderful day . . .

Mollie
elinkarlsson@WordPress


"I think dogs are the most amazing creatures; they give unconditional love. For me they are the role model for being alive."--Gilda Radner, Comedienne

Thumbnail of 'Lily' for Signature Line.png

National Mill Dog Rescue


"Every time I lose a dog, he takes a piece of my heart. Every new dog gifts me with a piece of his. Someday, my heart will be total dog, and maybe then I will be just as generous, loving, and forgiving."--Author Unknown
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Everyone thinks they have the best dog, and none of them are wrong.

Gerrit's picture

lives and all dogs are therapy dogs :=) Bailey is a beautiful dog indeed! My in-laws always had Labs when they were younger and my father-in-law had a Springer until recently. He was killed by a crazy person speeding on a country road. Grr.

I love the photo of Valerie and Bella. How marvelous that she could enjoy her wedding day because Bella was there. Bella makes Valerie a more resilient person. Lady does that for me. Lovie wants to take Lady to therapy dog training. She could then wear one of those vests and go into places I have difficulty going. It's a thought. A scary thought, but a good one. We'll see this year.

Have a lovely day, my friend, and thank you for what you do in rescuing good dogs from bad places and people.

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Raggedy Ann's picture

We have two cats. Since we live in a rural area, they are really outside cats. We have a place for them to come into the sun porch in the winter because it is heated and the garage is theirs year around. They bring lots of rodents to the back door so we can be proud that they are doing their job. We get mice, rats, bunnies, gophers, birds. Lovely to almost step on when I go from kitchen to garage and there is my "gift!" LOL!

We used to have a dalmation - she patrolled the place - nothing got by her! We finally had to put her down in 2012 after having her for 15 years. Her back end went out. She was a great dog. We're not going to get another one, though. At least not in the near future. We might get a puppy and kittens in the future - so they can grow up together - we'll see.

We've had chickens before and plan to get more this May.

Hope all is going well with you. Have a good one!

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Gerrit's picture

hope that the future brings you puppies and kittens :=) Give my best to Cuz R.Andy. Tell him that my Lady is very good for my ptsd. Maybe a golden will help him too, eh?

You know what I want? Pretty birds. My first memory is of me at age 3 opening the double door of my Oupa's large aviary and sending all his pretty birds, accumulated over many years, into the sunshine and free air. Apparently, the family spent weeks running around the neighbourhood chasing pretty birds :=) I was a busy kid. How I managed to survive long enough to go to primary school is still a mystery to my mother. So in memory of my Dutch grandfather, I want an aviary with pretty birds. And world peace and a universal basic income...

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Raggedy Ann's picture

My best friend is a first generation American. Her parents emigrated from Holland in the 40's. Because of her, my grandkids call us Opa and Oma. Interesting!

RAndy had dogs most of his life - it's what kept him somewhat sane in his younger years. Sometimes he'd like a dog again, but we're so busy, and never home that we don't want to subject the dog to being alone all the time. Once we are able to scale back our schedules - in a couple of years - we want to rethink it and bring a few more animals around.

He's a major birder, too. He can identify birds by their song, their color, their flight patterns - it amazes me. We feed lots of birds, which is why the cats catch them, sometimes, drat!

I want all those things, too, CuzG - especially world peace. Ah, one can always dream..............................

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JayRaye's picture

started this group!

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Gerrit's picture

they're about lively topics and they're real friendly and interesting. I'm amazed every day by how much I learn from c99ers. I'm real glad we're doing this. Enjoy your evening, my friend,

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Unabashed Liberal's picture

of you and 'the Boys!' Give Max and Rusty an ear rub for me, OK?

Wink

I have to admit, I never imagined that dogs would be a topic in this Group. But, it does make sense.

Mollie
elin karlsson @ WordPress


"To Thine Own Self Be True, And It Must Follow, As The Night The Day, Thou Canst Not Then Be False To Any Man."--William Shakespeare

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Gerrit's picture

is a proper English lady with Swedish and Scottish (not Scotch :=) in her blood. My father was a lunatic Afrikaner (a Dutch African) with veins filled mainly with piss and vinegar :=) Also a charmer, hence the English rose of a bride.

It's a wonderful thought that life will calm down for you guys so that you could have a few more animals around. w00t! I keep being astounded by the similar interests of Andy and myself. A brother form another mother, I'm sure :=) I would like to learn more about birds. I know nothing; I just put out seed and water twice a day and watch them play from the window. I have a Birds of Ontario book to help me identify them, but know nothing. Tell him he's a genius! Enjoy your evening my friend,

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among-the-wildflowers's picture

to this community! Wonderful choice of topic Gerrit, dogs have worked alongside humans for far too long, especially on farms and the like, to not get an honorable mention in any pro-labor, pro-sustainability movement. And of course, all the health benefits of owning a dog, which you have so beautifully illustrated in your post, cannot be overstated.

We have a lab-pitt (perhaps other breeds mixed in too) who is a rescue from Georgia. She is a (very bossy) ray of sunshine:

IMG_1059.JPG
image_25.jpeg

(not sure why I can't get these photos to orient properly - I'm a millennial, I should be good with computers!!!)

Our previous dog was a golden, who unfortunately passed away from cancer last year. Of course the entire situation was devastating, yet I know for a fact that my need to care for her and be emotionally present throughout the rest of her life was what pulled me out of the really bad mental state I had been in at the time. Here she is:

photo 3.JPG

I believe dogs bring out the best in us, making us harder and more honest workers.

I know my mom is a serial lurker on here, so hopefully this post will drag her out of the shadows to confirm the greatness of these pups.

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among-the-wildflowers's picture

to this community! Wonderful choice of topic Gerrit, dogs have worked alongside humans for far too long, especially on farms and the like, to not get an honorable mention in any pro-labor, pro-sustainability movement. And of course, all the health benefits of owning a dog, which you have so beautifully illustrated in your post, cannot be overstated.

We have a lab-pitt (perhaps other breeds mixed in too) who is a rescue from Georgia. She is a (very bossy) ray of sunshine:

IMG_1059.JPG
image_25.jpeg

(not sure why I can't get these photos to orient properly - I'm a millennial, I should be good with computers!!!)

Our previous dog was a golden, who unfortunately passed away from cancer last year. Of course the entire situation was devastating, yet I know for a fact that my need to care for her and be emotionally present throughout the rest of her life was what pulled me out of the really bad mental state I had been in at the time. Here she is:

photo 3.JPG

I believe dogs bring out the best in us, making us harder and more honest workers.

I know my mom is a serial lurker on here, so hopefully this post will drag her out of the shadows to confirm the greatness of these pups.

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Unabashed Liberal's picture

if you don't mind)!

Both of your pups are/were quite handsome. My condolences regarding the loss of your beautiful Golden. They are a breed that is wonderful, well-rounded, and smart; not to mention that they always appear to be 'so happy.' (as your photo bears out)

Look forward to seeing you, and hopefully, your Mom, here at the Resilience Group, as well as at the C99P Community at large.

Give rose

Mollie
elinkarlsson@WordPress


"I think dogs are the most amazing creatures; they give unconditional love. For me they are the role model for being alive."--Gilda Radner, Comedienne

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National Mill Dog Rescue


"Every time I lose a dog, he takes a piece of my heart. Every new dog gifts me with a piece of his. Someday, my heart will be total dog, and maybe then I will be just as generous, loving, and forgiving."--Author Unknown
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Everyone thinks they have the best dog, and none of them are wrong.

among-the-wildflowers's picture

It's great to find a community that shares all the same values and visions for the future as I do.

And yes, goldens are such wonderful creatures, so willing to share their love.

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"In the end, nobody wins unless everybody wins" - Bruce Springsteen

Gerrit's picture

a wonderful place. I'm meeting so many like-minded people and the discussions are fun. Lots of real smart people here! So I learn a lot. Thanks for dropping by and stop in any time. Enjoy your day,

And TY for the Golden upvote :=)

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Resilience: practical action to improve things we can control.
3D+: developing language for postmodern spirituality.